Shakhtar vs Jablonec: players’ opinions

- It was a difficult encounter. The opponents operated defensively and waited for an opportunity to counterattack. We had a lot of chances, but we didn’t convert them all. We will try to play better, as we have enough strong players. Of course, we wanted to win. For the club like ours it doesn’t really matter whether it’s a friendly or official game – Shakhtar should win. I am glad to have scored our first goal. This adds confidence and is important for my future performance. Now I feel a little tired in view of our pre-season training, but that's okay.

- Participating in a tournament is always more interesting than playing an ordinary friendly match. This adds motivation and attitude. We started well: getting the opponents under pressure, and having chances to score. Then Jablonec started playing tighter defensively, and it wasn’t that easy to rip it open. Besides, we conceded a goal from the spot, managing to level it before the break. In the second half, another defensive mistake led to a goal, and we had to equalize again. The competition format with a penalty shoot-out, I think, is fun for both the fans and the players. I'd have loved to take a spot kick, had I been on the pitch. The team wanted to claim a win today, with the coaches preparing us to win only, but we got somewhat unlucky in the lottery. However, our major goal is preparing well for the season, rediscovering our form before official games. So we continue to work.